Franklin Cudjoe Backs Mahama’s Focus on Economy as Central Issue for 2024 Election
Franklin Cudjoe, the President of IMANI Africa, has voiced his support for former President John Dramani Mahama’s recent emphasis on the economy as the central theme of the 2024 election campaign. Mahama’s use of the phrase, “It’s about the economy, stupid!”—a slogan famously coined during Bill Clinton’s 1992 U.S. presidential campaign—has sparked mixed reactions in Ghana, with some viewing it as a blunt criticism of the country’s current administration.
In response to the ensuing debate, Cudjoe took to Facebook on November 1, 2024, to clarify that Mahama’s statement should not be taken as an insult. Rather, he suggested, it is a powerful critique of the current economic conditions under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government. “The phrase ‘the economy, stupid’ is not an insult,” Cudjoe asserted. “Any observant citizen living in Ghana from 2016 to 2024 would recognize the impacts of economic decline, rising inflation, currency depreciation, and a ballooning national debt.”
Cudjoe’s comments reflect the increasing frustrations of many Ghanaians over the country’s economic state. He referenced a recent Afrobarometer survey showing that 87% of Ghanaians view the economic outlook as bleak, pointing to factors such as the steep depreciation of the cedi and a soaring national debt. Since 2016, he noted, the cedi has dropped from GHC4 per dollar to GHC17, while the national debt has surged from GHC120 billion to GHC750 billion. Cudjoe attributed this economic downturn to what he called “the ‘Solid Team’ of Damaging Directors,” criticizing what he perceives as poor economic management.
Mahama, whose campaign has been centered around economic reform, recently reiterated that Ghana’s economic stability should be the focal point for voters in the upcoming election. He argued that immediate economic concerns, such as inflation, debt, and currency depreciation, outweigh other priorities like infrastructure. According to Mahama, these issues have had a direct impact on the daily lives of Ghanaians, and he believes voters deserve an opportunity to hold the government accountable for the current economic struggles they face.
Cudjoe’s support adds weight to Mahama’s message and highlights a growing call for an election focused on economic performance and accountability. By reinforcing Mahama’s focus on the economy, Cudjoe underscored the need for issue-based political discourse that directly addresses voters’ most pressing concerns. He argued that Mahama’s message resonates because it speaks directly to the real challenges many Ghanaians are experiencing in their day-to-day lives.
In emphasizing this theme, Cudjoe and Mahama both aim to shift the 2024 election dialogue towards economic policies that can stabilize Ghana’s economy, potentially providing relief for struggling citizens. Their shared focus on the economy signals a potential shift in Ghanaian political rhetoric, as voters are urged to evaluate candidates based on their capacity to address and improve the country’s economic standing.
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